Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Where does Gaudreau rank among all time Flames forwards?

malcolmk14 · 01-08-2019, 05:29 PM

In all seriousness, based on longevity and point totals, I'm not even sure I'd rank Gaudreau in the top 10. He is young, he's been here for 4 1/2 years, and this team has had some long-term, seriously productive players.

I think Iginla is #1, without a doubt. The guy played 1,273 games including playoffs for this franchise. There's no way he's not #1. He is undoubtedly a Hall of Fame player and what he's done for this franchise will likely never be surpassed.

Fleury is #2. He scored 830 points, won a Stanley Cup, and was top 5 in Hart Trophy voting twice while he was in Calgary. I think it is realistic that by the end of Gaudreau's career, he could eclipse Fleury. But he is still a long way off. Fleury was this team's heart and soul for 10 years. There's a reason no one has worn 14 since he left.

After those two guys (and MacInnis, but the question was about forwards), there's a huge gap.

The question is where does he rank today, so honestly in his 4 1/2 seasons with the Flames he has done nothing much of significance. He's shown flashes of greatness but if he were traded or quit hockey tomorrow we would not talk about him 20 years from now as one of the greatest Flames of all time. I think Mikael Backlund would rank higher than him, honestly.

Backlund - 583 games played, 294 points, 15 playoff games
Gaudreau - 356 games played, 352 points, 15 playoff games

Sure, the point totals are there for Gaudreau but if he retired tomorrow he would be soon forgotten.

In order to be ranked highly, Gaudreau has to stay, and has to produce, for a long period of time. If this is what he is now and he flirts with 100 points a year and stays here through his prime and into his early 30's, then we can have this conversation.

His closest career comparables on Hockey-Reference are Filip Forsberg, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Mike Hoffman... Great players? Sure, maybe. Iginla & Fleury level? No.

Iginla comparables: Thornton, Yzerman, Beliveau, Dionne, Hossa, Sakic, Hull, Shanahan, Selanne, Messier

Fleury comparables: Kariya, Datsyuk, St. Louis, Mogilny, Kurri, Trottier, Nash

01-08-2019, 05:29 PM	#83
malcolmk14 Franchise Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Exp:	In all seriousness, based on longevity and point totals, I'm not even sure I'd rank Gaudreau in the top 10. He is young, he's been here for 4 1/2 years, and this team has had some long-term, seriously productive players. I think Iginla is #1, without a doubt. The guy played 1,273 games including playoffs for this franchise. There's no way he's not #1. He is undoubtedly a Hall of Fame player and what he's done for this franchise will likely never be surpassed. Fleury is #2. He scored 830 points, won a Stanley Cup, and was top 5 in Hart Trophy voting twice while he was in Calgary. I think it is realistic that by the end of Gaudreau's career, he could eclipse Fleury. But he is still a long way off. Fleury was this team's heart and soul for 10 years. There's a reason no one has worn 14 since he left. After those two guys (and MacInnis, but the question was about forwards), there's a huge gap. The question is where does he rank today, so honestly in his 4 1/2 seasons with the Flames he has done nothing much of significance. He's shown flashes of greatness but if he were traded or quit hockey tomorrow we would not talk about him 20 years from now as one of the greatest Flames of all time. I think Mikael Backlund would rank higher than him, honestly. Backlund - 583 games played, 294 points, 15 playoff games Gaudreau - 356 games played, 352 points, 15 playoff games Sure, the point totals are there for Gaudreau but if he retired tomorrow he would be soon forgotten. In order to be ranked highly, Gaudreau has to stay, and has to produce, for a long period of time. If this is what he is now and he flirts with 100 points a year and stays here through his prime and into his early 30's, then we can have this conversation. His closest career comparables on Hockey-Reference are Filip Forsberg, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Mike Hoffman... Great players? Sure, maybe. Iginla & Fleury level? No. Iginla comparables: Thornton, Yzerman, Beliveau, Dionne, Hossa, Sakic, Hull, Shanahan, Selanne, Messier Fleury comparables: Kariya, Datsyuk, St. Louis, Mogilny, Kurri, Trottier, Nash